Cyclops: Oh? For love of the X-Men, you sacrificed your life. For love of me, you resurrected yourself. For love of the whole universe, you almost died a second time to save it. Know nothing of love?! Jean, you are love!

Professor X: I see. We pick and choose who we help, is that it? Some are worthy, others not?! Who was it, Ororo, told me Wolverine was an X-Man, not because of his "sterling" chacter (sic), but his potential for good. That to deny him-- though we abhor his violent nature-- would thereby deny our true reason for being, which is to help him achieve that potential. The same argument holds for Rogue, does it not? Of course, there's a risk in accepting her-- but consider the alternative. At least with us she has a chance for a better life, Deny her and we condemn her outright... and that I will never do-- to any mutant-- so long as breath remains within me.

Jean Grey and Storm spending quality time after Storm had been believed dead and was restored to a state of pre-adolescence. (NOTE: The coloring in the panel erroneously shows Storm's hand white and Jean's hand black; this error becomes apparent through the dialogue)

Jean Grey: Ain't we the pair-- me, with too many lives for one body, you with not enough body for your life.

Storm: Muddling through regardless.

Jean Grey: From one catastrophe to the next.

Storm: 'Til death do us part.

Jean Grey: That'll be the day.

Storm: (proposing toast) To the X-Men, then! Who do not die the old fashioned way.

Magneto: The New Mutants were left in my charge and they suffered for it-- because I tried to pattern myself after Charles Xavier. I am not Charles Xavier. I will never be Charles Xavier. I was a fool to try. (...) As he was, for believing I could succeed. [Magneto kills Zaladane]

(A video from the future is shown to the X-Men by Bishop. Due to improper storage, it has corroded)

Jean Grey: Alex?! - Cable... Anyone?! - - Don't even know - transmission being received? -- taken total - taken totally unaware! Both teams - and - decimated! Mansion security was deactivated - activated... activated... deactivated from within! -- Betrayed by one of our own! Professor Xavier - was the first to die. One one left... power's negated. Our own fault, really - should never have trusted -- We knew so little about - YOU?! - may have killed the X-men... but the dream will never...

Magneto: I don't want to do this Charles, rather I have to. I must be strong, because you and your X-Men are too weak to do that which must be done! ....For no matter what happens to you and me, the welfare of the children is paramount. Whether they be the innocent like Illyana, Doug and Anya before them, the lost such as my Acolytes, or the misguided like the fools you count among the X-Men; they need to be protected! They need to be awakened from the dream in which you've lulled them! Whether you admit it or not, they need...MAGNETO!

Rogue: Not the most discreet use o' your magnetic powers. Ya realize Cyclops would have both our heads for this?

Joseph: Then it is a good thing he's not here.

Coachman: Um...I'm going to go out on a limb here...

(View shifts, they are riding a horse-drawn cab several stories above the streets of Manhattan)

Coachman: ...mutants, right?

Rogue: That obvious? We're sorry, sir. We'll put you down and --

Coachman: You'll do no such thing, ma'am. I've read the papers...I've seen the television reports about mutants. Whats more, I've come to my own conclusions. I think you're all trying your best to lead your own lives...A lot of times going out of your way to make sure us normal folk can live ours. What I'm saying is, it's an honor to have you in my cab. I mean, Christmas is a time for miracles, right..? I'd like to enjoy this one. Just as soon as I get get my fingernails off of my kneecaps, that is.

Rogue: Why... thank you, sir. That means a a lot.

Joseph: If you could drop us off at the World Trade Center--that would be perfect.

(View shifts again, to a man in an office. He is unnamed, but we are led to understand, through visual cues, that he is Bob Harras, editor of the comic)

Bob: I would love for me to be home too, Anne -- but I have books three days from shipping -- And Scott and Joe haven't even started the next issue! Give the boys a kiss goodnight for me and...

First words of narration: What is it that pulls a man apart... yet at the same time, holds him together?

Narration: Once, long ago, what held this man together - the young Charles Xavier, a genius telepath with the simple dream of helping mutant by providing a school for them to learn how to control their powers - was his original group of students. And later, though he still cared about his school - and his all-new, all-different students - what held this man together was his love for a beautiful princess from another world. Recently, as adjectives became inadequate to describe the many souls in his school - what held this man together seemed to fall away...

Gambit: I'm sorry, Rogue. I know I wasn't straight with you... but I promise you I will change that when we get home.

Rogue: Home? You ain't got a home. Not with me, not with the X-Men.

Gambit: Fine. Fine. I deserve that. But can you at least drop me somewhere inhabited -

Rogue: Remy, it's too much. I can't take what you did. Whatever comes, whatever the cost to other people, I'm sure you'll survive, you seem to have done that very admirably in the past.

Gambit: But I... I love you.

Rogue:(throwing him the card he gave her symbolizing their relationship)You're honest with the people you love, Remy. Otherwise... it's a gamble.

(Rogue flies away, leaving Gambit to his fate)

Final words of narration: What is it that pulls a man apart, yet at the same time holds him together? It is his soul. And whether good... or evil... or some combination of the two... no man can escape the dictates of his soul.

Nightcrawler: Azazel may have provided the genetic material that made me what I am, physically... but my "father" has always been here whenever I needed him, Professor Xavier... with food, money, support, family... and most importantly... with love, understanding, and kindness. "The foolish notion of the angels." Thank you Professor, for being a true father to me all these years.